International Institute Of Buffalo Inc

TO MAKE WNY A BETTER PLACE FOR, AND BECAUSE OF, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. WE WELCOME, CONNECT, AND EMPOWER THE FOREIGN BORN, AND ENCOURAGE THE REGION'S SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT CULTURES. OUR VISION IS AN INCLUSIVE MULTICULTURAL WESTERN NEW YORK THAT EMBRACES ALL PEOPLE.

SURVIVOR SUPPORT - ASSISTING APPROXIMATELY 300 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING FROM 30 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE U.S., ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SHELTER AND HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, INTERPRETING,COURT ADVOCACY, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, ENGLISH CLASSES, REFERRALS OR CONNECTIONS WITH AGENCIES WHO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES AND EDUCATION ADVOCACY.

EDUCATION & VISITORS - PROVIDING EDUCATION TO STUDENTS, CHILDREN, AND ADULT PROFESSIONALS ON GLOBAL CULTURES. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN INCLUDE ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL TRIVIA COMPETITION, MODEL UNITED NATIONS SIMULATIONS, GLOBALKIDS, WHICHINCLUDES EDUCATING CHILDREN AND STUDENTS ON CULTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD (PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, FOOD, MUSIC, ANIMALS, ARTS & CRATFS, WORLD FASHION, HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD, ETC.) AND WHAT DISTINGUISHES A REFUGEE FROM AN IMMIGRANT. INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES PROGRAM AIMS TO FOSTER PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (IVLP) AND OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. IVLP IS A PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM WHEREBY U.S. EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD NOMINATE EMERGING LEADERS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES AS DELEGATES TO COME TO THE U.S. AND MEET WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES IN THEIR FIELD OF WORK. DELEGATES ARE ALSO INTRODUCED TO THE TRADITIONAL CULTURE OF THE U.S. HOST CITY TO RECEIVE A WELL-ROUNDED EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S. THE OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS MUCH LIKE IVLP, BUT ALLOWS FOR DELEGATES TO STAY IN AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS FOR THEIR NINE DAY STAY IN BUFFALO IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

INTERPRETING/TRANSLATION SERVICES - PROVIDING TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING SERVICES IN MORE THAN 100 LANGUAGES WITH MORE THAN 200 TRAINED AND CERTIFIED TRANSLATORS AND QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS. SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO LEGAL AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, CORPORATIONS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND MORE.

REFUGEE INTEGRATION - NEW AMERICAN INTEGRATION, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND PREFERRED COMMUNITIES SUPPORT. NEW AMERICAN INTEGRATION INCLUDES THE U.S. RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS IN ENROLLING IN ENGLISH CLASSES, PROVIDING AND SETTING UP INITIAL HOUSING, LINKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOLS, ENROLLMENT IN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, ACCESS TO ALLOWABLE SOCIAL SERVICES AND ORIENTATION TO U.S. SYSTEMS, LAWS AND CULTURE DURING THEIR FIRST 90 DAYS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS; JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES TO HELP MATCH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BUFFALO-NIAGARA REGION; AND MAINTENANCE AND RETENTION SERVICES TO PROVIDE BOTH EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER SUPPORT FOR A SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT. PREFERRED COMMUNITIES SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES MEDICAL ACCESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS UPON ARRIVAL, HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, OR ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFTER ARRIVAL, RESIDE IN THE GREATER WESTERN NEW YORK REGION AND HAVE LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.